I acquired my Canon 10D digital SLR on April 11, 2003 and went out shooting with it that evening. On August 10, I took the above photo with the same camera body. It is the 10,000th photo I took
with the 10D, although I didn't realize it until later when I downloaded the memory card.

10,000 photos is a lot to take in four months. A little quick math turns
that average into 30,000 photos per year. Just keeping track of all of those photos is mind-boggling.

A system for keeping track of the photographs is important, as is some good software. Adobe Photoshop Album is a
one good example (you can find it on

Still, 30,000 photos a year is too many. You will fill your hard drive and tons of CD-R discs. The solution to avoiding this digital
glut is to edit and delete.

Before you burn your digital photos to disc (read more

here), go through and delete all the bad ones, the ones that are out of focus, poorly exposed, and poorly composed. Now go back and delete all of the average photos. If you have 8 or
10 really good sunflower photos, you don't need 30 or 40 average sunflower photos. Toss them aside.

Come back a few days later and look at your photos again. Go through again and toss out some more. Edit down until
you have your very best left, the ones you are really proud of, the ones you would print and hang on your wall. Now burn these to disc.

It is not easy to delete a bunch of average looking photos, especially if you are
a saver, but you will thank me later. Avoid digital glut. Edit and delete!